Early Years Funding
The Early Years Alliance Family Corner Funding Guidance can be found here
You can read this useful guidance by the Early Years Alliance in their Family Corner webpage, about the arrangements for government funded childcare, who can access it and how.
What is my family eligible for?
Eligibility for the different funded early education and childcare schemes normally depends on two things:
- the age of your child
- your working status or income
Funded Hours for 2 year olds for 15 hours p/w for 38 weeks a year
(from 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 2nd birthday)
Two-year-olds
Families with children aged two are currently eligible for 15 hours per week of funded care and education (for 38 weeks of the year) if they receive any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
- the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
A child may also be eligible if they:
- are looked after by a local authority
- have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- get Disability Living Allowance
- have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
As of April 2024, all eligible working parents of two-year-olds are able to access funding for 15 hours per week of education and care for 38 weeks of the year, increasing to 30 hours from September 2025.
See ‘What does the government mean by ‘eligible working families?’ below for more information on who counts as a ‘working family’.
To apply for free childcare hours for your 2 year old – You will need a current email address.
First register and then apply via the online application form at:
For more information about 2 year old childcare education, visit:
3 & 4 Year Old Funding - 15 Hours
Funded Hours for 3 & 4 year olds for 15 hours p/w for 38 weeks a year
(From 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday)
Currently, all three- and four-year-olds can access 15 hours per week of funded care and education for 38 weeks of the year, regardless of the income or working status of their parent or carer. This is often described as a ‘universal offer’.
For more information about 3 & 4 year old 15 hours funding, visit:
3 & 4 Year Old Funding 30 Hours
Funded Hours for 3 & 4 year olds for 30 hours p/w for 38 weeks a year
(From 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following your child’s 3rd birthday)
All information regarding 30 hours funded care and education for 38 weeks of the year for eligible working families can be found here and the Early Years Alliance also provides further information on their webpage here
Only places taken up at approved early education and childcare providers (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs) are eligible for government funded hours.
You can get 30 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (term-time)
| When you child turns 3 | When they can get 30 hours from | Recommended time to apply |
|---|---|---|
|
1 September to 31 December |
Term starting on or after 1 January |
15 October to 30 November |
|
1 January to 31 March |
Term starting on or after 1 April |
15 January to 28 February |
|
1 April to 31 August |
Term starting on or after 1 September |
15 June to 31 July |
You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time. You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.